Submission Opportunities: 4 Literary Agents Ready to Consider Your Picture Book, Middle Grade Novel, Young Adult Novel, or Adult Fiction and Nonfiction

 

Shannon Hassan

AGENCY: Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

What: She represents upmarket adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction. She looks for contemporary and historical stories that have a fresh voice and a big hook, and is especially interested in underrepresented voices. She received her JD from Harvard and her BA from George Washington University.

Wishlist: Her wish list is here: www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/shannon-hassan/

Where: Query Tracker: Query Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Agency Website

https://marsallyonliteraryagency.com/who-we-are/shannon-hassan/

 

Sara Crowe

AGENCY: Sara Crowe Literary Agency

What:

“We are looking for author-illustrated graphic novels, MG and YA fiction, children’s and adult nonfiction, and adult fiction. In all areas, we are especially looking for underrepresented voices.

*We are currently NOT accepting any picture book texts.”

WHEN: Website says that they will open to queries on November 15^th. Recently online I read that they are open the 15^th-17^th of the month, so pay attention because it might be a short window.

Where to Query: Query Manager

*Please submit via QueryManager. Email submissions will NOT be accepted.

 

Agency Website: https://www.saracrowelit.com/about

Chelsea Moyer 

AGENCY: Raven Quill

WHEN: Opened ON  September 4th

WHAT: She says of her wish list “it’s long. It’s weird. It’s hyper specific. But if it resonates with you and your work, please add to your query list.” Want to see that full list:

It includes MG, YA, NA, ADULT, she loves commercial genre fiction, especially fantasy speculative fiction and mysteries, but some of her absolute favorite titles are contemporary, so the door is open. More than anything she is seeking big feelings, yearning, romantic, or not, interesting characters who make compelling human decisions, pact stories that keep her turning pages, and worlds and scenarios that set her imagination on fire. Check out her website for details like for example, for young adult she likes messy characters on an arc, mystery meets fantasy.

An adult she loves mystery fantasy genre, blending à la the raven scholar and the tainted cup. She loves fantasy with a strong, romantic plot.

• Her website has a whole list of books to give examples and even albums TV shows and musicals to hone in on what big feelings mean

Where to Query:  Chelsea Moyer - Assistant Literary Agent

https://chelseamargomoyer.com/

 

 

Aemilia Phillips

Where: DeFiore and Company

When: NOW

Aemilia Phillips is a literary agent representing a range of fiction and non-fiction writers, including a National Book Award nominee, PEN America finalist, Pulitzer winning journalist, and more.

She’s excited to work with writers who push boundaries to address social justice issues. A dual Mexican American citizen with interests in narrative non-fiction, hybrid memoir, commercial and literary fiction, and select poetry and self-help, she looks for diverse writing with an impactful story to tell.

• Interests: Narrative non-fiction, hybrid memoir, commercial and literary fiction, select poetry, and self-help.
• Focus: She looks for diverse stories, social justice themes, smart cultural critiques, and complex characters with touches of magic or speculative elements.
• Background: She started her career in 2016 at the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency and joined DeFiore & Company in 2026. She is a Harvard graduate.

 

Where to Query & How to Query Aemilia:

• Submission method: Send a query letter along with the first 10 to 15 pages of your manuscript or proposal pasted directly into the body of an email.
• Email address: aemilia.query@defliterary.com (double check website that this is still her preferred method. This post was created September 14, 2026)
• Note: Do not send attachments,
• Due to the number of submissions she receives, Aemilia will be in touch only if she’s interest in reading more material.

·       Agency Website Link: https://www.defliterary.com/

 

* Early alert, next week I'll mention these four agents who take several categories including picture books!

Syrone Harvey of Belcastro Agency 

Monica Odom of Odom Media Management 

Taj McCoy of Starling Literary + Media 

Limited Time Submission Opportunity for Children's Book Literary Agents Picture Books through Young Adult Novels and also Adult Fiction and Nonfiction

 

Did you finish your book? Here is a list of agents accepting query letters for a limited time. 

I focused on children's books PB-YA, but I also included ADULT FICTION AND NONFICTION agents incase others wandered over to this post!

Silvia Molteni of Peter Fraser + Dunlop

WHO: Silvia Molteni heads of the children’s literature department at PFD.

AGENCY: Her agency, Peter Fraser + Dunlop is one of the longest-established literary and talent agencies in London.

WHEN: Open NOW (I can never guarantee how long an agent’s inbox will remain open)

 

WHAT: Fiction and nonfiction. Here’s what she says, “I am primarily looking for middle grade and YA fiction. I generally gravitate towards voice and character driven narratives, as well as literary fiction and beautiful writing, which I prefer over complex plots and extensive world building.

In middle grade novels, I enjoy contemporary and realistic settings and magical realism the

most. I love clever humour, but I am always keen to read fiction with endearing characters, mind-blowing adventures and stories with lots of heart. That said, I’m open to all genres, including fantasy, horror, dark and Gothic tales in MG. Some personal favourites are Holes by Louis Sachar, The Witches by Roald Dahl, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Meteorite Spoon by Philip Ridley and The Paul Street Boys by Ferenc Molnar.

On the YA side, I’m looking for fiction across all genres, with a preference for upmarket, literary and voice-driven contemporary and coming-of-age stories. I’m currently on the lookout for an original hook in the psychological thriller space, as well as atmospheric horror, sweeping rom-coms and gripping, rebellious dystopian stories. Light fantasy is of interest, while commercial fantasy that involves extensive world building, high word-count or multi-book series is generally not for me. Some examples of YA I’ve enjoyed: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, Alice and the Fly by James Rice, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

I’m open to original non-fiction books aimed at children and YA – from memoir to manuals, popular science and humorous books.

I’m selectively taking on picture books, both in the fiction and non-fiction space; I’m generally drawn to read-out-loud stories rooted in comedy and heart, compelling and original characters, interactive books and stand-out hooks.

Finally, I’m also open to illustrators’ portfolios, across all ages, whether for graphic novels”

 

HOW: Accepts queries via email.

GUIDELINES: Agency page says, “Please send us the first three chapters (or around fifty pages) of your novel, as well as a full synopsis and a covering letter, with a brief CV of your writing career, if appropriate. For non-fiction projects, please send a detailed proposal, alongside the covering letter and CV.” And they add: “You can submit directly via email to one of our agents, and you can find out about their interests here. Please only submit to one agent. Please either email them or their assistant directly. Please note we do not accept submissions via hard copy.”

Email address: smolteni@pfd.co.uk

 

 (per Query Tracker) you can look up her details here: https://querytracker.net/agent/7315

 

Sahar Kashi

Heirloom Literary

Heirloom’s newest agent, Sahar Kashi, is now open to adult and young adult fiction and memoir submissions! Sahar is drawn to daring work that finds laughter alongside grief, explores mental health and emotional healing, and pushes narrative boundaries. She loves romance woven through immersive world-building and stories that subvert genre expectations. She is especially seeking visionary storytellers who pair commercial insight with an authentic connection to their material.

She’s looking to represent books like Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, The Last Days of California, by Mary Miller, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, Yesteryear by Stephen G. Eoannou, The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, and Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, among many others.

 Visit Heirloom's SHARE YOUR WORK page.

Michaela Whatnall - Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

OPEN NOW (at the time of writing this post!)

WHAT: Michaela is especially interested in whimsical picture books and unexplored perspectives. For MG and YA, they’re interested in all genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, historical, adventure, horror, and rom-com.

Here are more details: *“Picture Book: I am selectively seeking picture books (text only or text and art) that are either wonderfully whimsical, explore an interesting and previously unexplored topic, or that bring a brand new perspective on a common childhood experience.”

Query them on Query Tracker . https://querytracker.net/query/2328

What else: strong interest in children’s literature, particularly middle grade and young adult fiction of all genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, historical, adventure, horror, and rom-com. In the adult fiction space, they are particularly seeking contemporary, speculative, and historical upmarket fiction, as well as character-driven, grounded fantasy. They are also open to select narrative nonfiction for both children and adults, graphic novels, and picture books.

Maria Vicente, P.S. Literary 

📅 WHEN: OPENS SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 !

For children’s books, Maria is currently looking for middle grade fantasy novels and illustrated

picture books.

👉 SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Queries should be directed to query@psliterary.com. If the agent you are querying is interested they normally respond in 4-8 weeks. I wish I could promise a reply to everybody, but their inboxes are too full to give everyone a reply and still manage their clients.

WESITE: Submission guidelines can be found here: https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/

Their other agents who also might be open include:

            Madison Potter, Associate Agent

Madison is currently acquiring genre fiction, upmarket fiction with commercial appeal, and non-fiction. On the fiction side, she enjoys stories with dystopian settings that explore human interaction with increasing technology; cozy fantasies with warmth and high fantasies with court politics or moral ambiguity; sweeping romances or those with unconventional pairings, such as slasher romcom or horror romances; and strange, cozy horror. In the speculative space, she is particularly interested in mythical creatures that go against norms or plots that subvert typical tropes. She also welcomes high-concept genre mashups or weird girl fiction Read more at: https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/

            Gemma Paynter, Associate Agent

Gemma is actively acquiring adult fiction and non-fiction that subvert expectations. In non-fiction, she is drawn to narrative projects that bring niche subjects to a wide readership, particularly those that blend memoir with expertise. Her interests include pop culture, pop science, fashion, design, literary commentary, and the history of subcultures and counterculture. In fiction, she loves immersive atmosphere, sharp observation, twisty storytelling, and offbeat wit. She is especially interested in folktale-inspired horror and fantasy, gothic mystery and romance, fantasies featuring mundane magic, puzzle-driven mysteries, and cozy stories that feel hopeful yet grounded, like a Studio Ghibli movie. READ MORE AT: https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/

There are others, too! Check them out at https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/

 

HOW: They only accept submissions via email. Queries should be directed to query@psliterary.com. If they are interested they normally respond in 4-8 weeks. Their inboxes are too full to give everyone a reply.

BONUS INFO: P.S. Literary GUIDELINES Below provide details that might help with other agents you query. Best practice- check each agencies website for guidelines or check the links on Query Tracker.

WESITE: Submission guidelines can be found here: https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/

THere are P.S. Literary's guidelines quoted directly from their page (as of September 1, 2026):

Your submission should consist of the following:

Paragraph One - Introduction:

Include the title and category of your work (i.e. fiction or non-fiction and topic), an estimated word count and a brief, general introduction.

Paragraph Two - Brief overview (this is where you hook us!):

This should read similar to what is found on the back-cover of a published book.

Paragraph Three - Creator’s bio:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

Sample Material:

If your work falls into the following categories: adult fiction, adult memoir, adult non-fiction essay collection, or children’s fiction and non-fiction, please include the first ten pages of text only (or the full text of fiction and non-fiction picture books) within the body of your email. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Otherwise, please limit your submission to just the three paragraphs as indicated.

 

Agents Accepting Query Letters for Adult and Children's Books!

 

Update: Elena Giovinazzo is not opening on September 8th; however, Sahar Kashi at Heirloom Literary is now open!

Heirloom’s newest agent, Sahar Kashi, is now open to adult and young adult fiction and memoir submissions! Sahar is drawn to daring work that finds laughter alongside grief, explores mental health and emotional healing, and pushes narrative boundaries. She loves romance woven through immersive world-building and stories that subvert genre expectations. She is especially seeking visionary storytellers who pair commercial insight with an authentic connection to their material.

She’s looking to represent books like Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, The Last Days of California, by Mary Miller, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, Yesteryear by Stephen G. Eoannou, The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, and Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, among many others.

 Visit Heirloom's SHARE YOUR WORK page.

WHO ELSE:  More about the team at Heirloom – buckle up for this powerhouse of KIDLIT superstars!

·       Elena Giovinazzo—Elena (one of the founders) has 20 years of industry experience spanning sales, subrights, marketing, and, of course, agenting.

o   Represents: PB, MG, YA, Graphic Novels, Illustrators, Adult Fiction (and maybe adult nonfiction) – MSWL was spare with details but it lists Nonfiction, Literary, Contemporary, and Magical Realism.

·       Jason Reynolds – THE Jason Reynolds!  His role as founder is leadership, mentorship, and creative.

·       Julia Ermi is the agency manager for Heirloom’s powerhouse clients, coordinating foreign rights and permissions, creating social media content, reading submissions, and generally facilitating the agency’s smooth operation.

·        Sahar Kashi—is a seasoned executive, developmental editor, and producer. She champions visionary storytellers who pair commercial insight with an authentic connection to their material.

HOW - Check out their WEBSITE: Here is their “share your work” link: https://www.heirloomliterary.com/share-your-work

 

Amy Collins at Talcott Notch 

WHEN: Starting on September 15, 2026

Amy Collins will open to query letters on SEPTEMBER 15^TH.

WHAT: She focuses on books for adults—non-fiction/ history, historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi. You can follow her on Instagram at @bookcrone to keep up to date when she opens and closes her submission inbox.

HOW: Amy Collins submission guidelines: https://talcottnotch.net/submissions/

 

Katrina Lemaire, Corvisiero Literary Agency

KatrinaLemaire is an Associate Literary Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency

WHEN: Open NOW – Katrina opened on August 26^th (closing date not listed; for agents it is often when the inbox feels too full – Opening and closing for queries is a smart management tool. Agents want to manage their workload and also respect writers by not having the query sit in their inbox for a year).

WHAT: Katrina represents picture book author/illustrators, middle grade, YA, New Adult/Ya Crossover.  Deep-dive details and clarity can be found at MSWL. However here is an overview.

Adult/Crossover New Adult Fiction: Fantasy, Speculative, Eco-horror, Horror, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Folklore, Romansty, Dark Academia, Magical Realism, Historical melds of horror, fantasy, and speculative, Occult, Cozy Mysteries, Rom-Coms, Romance, Commercial/Literary Fiction, Upmarket Literary, Soft SciFi, Thrillers

            Young Adult Fiction:

·       Mystery/Thriller: an ensemble of unreliable characters, or the themes that relate to culinary, fashion, art, or academic rivalry with a dash of deep-seated yearning. Locked Room/Whodunnits are welcome. The more messy/complex the mystery/murder the better.

·       YA Fantasy: Developed worlds, lush settings, intricate magic systems (non-western based), characters who are absolutely feral & unhinged (especially when they have a specific motive in mind), villains who are more than just love interests (villains who are fully realized with lots of interesting lore), romance that burns brighter than an eternal flame, creatures & monsters that pose a real threat and have interesting/unique origins, environmental fantasy that blends horror and speculative, soft fantasy that focuses on friendships, romance, and family, dark fantasy that doesn’t shy away from important topics/themes that need more exploration, fantasy that has thought-provoking political systems, and fresh takes on fairy tales.

·       In YA horror, ensemble characters who investigate haunted buildings/manors and discover hidden meanings/messages that reflect their own growth and navigation of self, bubblegum horror, gothic horror, exploration of themes relating to a “haunting” that can take place in the woods or burial ground, lovecraftian horror, monster horror, man-made horrors that pertain to environmentalism and body horror, the occult, quiet horror, and paranormal elements that are fresh and take a unique turn on the familiar mythos.

·       Contemporary Romance

Middle Grade:

Horror/Spooky, Cozy Fantasy: Give me all the studio Ghibli vibes and stories that comp The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, and The Owl House; Fantasy, Mystery, Contemporary Fiction

Picture Books (Author/Illustrators only) 

Graphic Novels

Specific Genres that she’s looking for at the moment are: Fantasy, Horror, Speculative, blends of contemporary and cultural YA/Adult LGBTQ+ and #OwnVoices narratives.

HOW: Accepts submissions on Query Tracker. Follow her on Instagram

@katrinalemlit at @corvisierolit *Remember, Katrina will open on August 26^th

 

 

 

 

Olivia Merick at Metamorphosis Literary Agency

WHO: Olivia Merick, Assistant Literary Agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency – check her out on Instagram (but please don’t query there!) @oliviaemerickagent

WHEN: Open NOW

 

WHAT: Olivia likes Romance, Fantasy, Mythology, Dark Academia, Horror, Thriller, Dystopian. She wants well-developed characters with inique hobbies, interests/careers, layered backgrounds, fantastic world building, a combo of plot/character-driven storylines, strong character arcs, subtle foreshadowing, and more!On a niche level, she would love polyglots, characters with insomnia, embedded folklore, Shakespearean retellings, female rage, v ido games or chess, loosely based reimagining of historical eras, sisterhood themes, epistolary elements.

WHAT SHE DOESN’T WANT: No to graphic novels, literary fiction, magical realism, non-fiction, science fiction, short story collections, or picture books.

HOW: Accepts submissions on Query Tracker

Https://querytracker.et/query/oliviamerick

 

 

Keir Alekseii  at Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency

 

WHO: Keir Alekseii is a Toronto-based literary agent with Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency

WHEN: Open September 1^st (only for one week)

 

WHAT: MG, YA, and Adult. Keir specializes in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror by marginalized voices. According to MSWL, Her favorite traits and tropes include:

• Found family
• Protags that are too smart for their own good
• Stories about embracing your identity and finding your path
• Stories that center BIPOC and queer happiness
• Enemies to friends/unlikely friendships
• Nonbinary MCs tasting power and choosing chaos
• Grump & sunshine/stabby & cinnamon roll pairings
• Femme villains corrupting cinnamon rolls/himbos
• Non-white power couples/non-white love interests
• Enemies to lovers & friends to lovers
• Slow burn & second chance romance 

HOW: Accepts submissions on Query Tracker

LINK: https://querytracker.net/agent/13782

KEY

PB= Picture Book

MG= Middle Grade

YA = Young Adult

GN = Graphic Novel

NA = New Adult

Adult = Adult (could be fiction or nonfiction - see details)

MSWL = Manuscript Wish List